In a domino effect triggered by dense fog at Delhi airport, India’s busiest air hub, the nation’s air travel faced significant disruptions, with Mumbai, the second-largest airport, experiencing a wave of cancellations. The impact rippled through the day, leading to the cancellation of about 18 departures from Mumbai and 15 arrivals, primarily operated by IndiGo.
One remarkable incident involved an Air Mauritius flight, MK-744, en route from Port Louis to Delhi, which ultimately diverted to land in Mumbai due to poor visibility in the capital. A source reported that the 169 passengers on board were accommodated in a hotel, with the rescheduled departure set for 10:15 pm.
Among the affected flights were arrivals from Chennai, Bengaluru, Nagpur, Delhi, Prayagraj, Hyderabad, Visakhapatnam, Chandigarh, Srinagar, and Aurangabad. Cancelled departures included flights to Delhi, Chennai, Bengaluru, Prayagraj, Bareilli, Nagpur, Kanpur, and Visakhapatnam.
IndiGo, in a statement, attributed the disruptions to low visibility and dense fog conditions across North India, affecting its operations throughout the day. The airline emphasized its continuous efforts to keep passengers informed about delays and cancellations, pledging to facilitate them as much as possible.
Adding to the chaos, Mumbai airport temporarily halted arrival and departure operations for an hour, from 12 pm to 1 pm, to accommodate Indian Air Force air exercises over Marine Drive. The ripple effect of this closure compounded the challenges already posed by the Delhi fog crisis, creating a day of considerable turmoil for air travelers nationwide.